Inference questions end with a blank and ask which choice "most logically completes the text." You must draw a conclusion that must be true based only on the passage.
The gold standard: the answer is forced by the text. Not merely possible, not likely — guaranteed by the information given.
Method
- Read for the logical setup. Inference passages are mini-arguments. Track the facts, then ask what follows.
- Predict the conclusion before reading choices, in your own words.
- Eliminate overreach. Choices with "always," "never," "the most," or brand-new information usually go too far.
Test each choice with: "Does the passage guarantee this?" If you can imagine the passage being true while the choice is false, eliminate it.